Over the months of September and October, the Country witnessed a push and pull between the National and County Governments as well as between County Governments regarding the water and sanitation function. This Comes at a time when the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 devolved the Water and Sanitation function under the fourth schedule.

The Water, Forestry and Mining Committee chaired by HE Kiraitu Murungi held a consultative meeting with Governors, Cabinet Secretaries from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Simon Chelugui and Eugene Wamalwa of Ministry of Devolution and ASALs as well as County Executive Committee members in charge of Water, Environment and Natural Resources.

This meeting was set to address the challenges in the management of the Water Sector in counties, as well as the roles of the various stakeholders in the provision of Water in the counties. The meeting was also set to deliberate on the current challenges in the water sector highlighting the need to find a common approach to reduce the tension between the two levels of government as well as addressing the Murang’a County water stalemate.

Speaking during the meeting, H.E Kiraitu Murungi, said that both County Governments and the National Government should adopt a framework of sharing of water resources as developed by JICA. He urged Nairobi and Murang’a Counties to find amicable ways of resolving a dispute instead of exchanging words in the media.

Also contributing to the discussions the CS Water and Sanitation, Simon Chelugui pointed out that his ministry noted with deep concern what was happening in Murang’a County and proclaimed that the Ministry of Water and Sanitation will develop a benefit-sharing mechanism to ensure residents of Murang’a County equally benefit from water resources that the County hosts. Currently, only 37% of the residents of Murang’a have access to water from the County’s water sources.

The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and Planning Eugene Wamalwa assured the County Governments of Nairobi and Murang’a of National Government’s support to ensure that this dispute is settled within the shortest reasonable time. He indicated that, since his ministry equally handles intergovernmental relations between counties and the matter will be resolved amicably through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

The meeting came to the following resolutions,

1. The ownership of Murang’a Water Services should be handed over to Murang’a County Government with Immediate effect

2. Needs for a framework sharing of water resources e.g. in connection of homesteads with water and catchment of water (non-monetary mechanism to compensate them)

3. A team will be formed between Senior Programme officers of COG, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Devolution and ASAL to resolve the water issues to operationalize the framework (look at the legal issues and operationalization of water institutions, to review, water service providers association and harmonize water sector institutions, a National Water Muster Plan to be domesticated )